News

Young American heads for Olympics with GCT win

Jul 23, 2012

The youngest rider to be selected for the 2012 Olympic Games clocked up a victory at the 5* GCT in Chantilly on sunday. Reed Kessler, only 18 years old, rode a stylish, fast clear on 57.71 in the early morning Prix Vicomte Arthur over 1m45 fences beating experienced show jumping stars, including fellow American Mclain Ward. After the win on her horse Ligist - she will be riding Cylana at the London Olympics - Reed said: “It is my last show before I go to the Olympics so it is a great feeling to win here. It has been a dream. It has been without a doubt the best year of my life.”

In today’s class Jessica Kurten / API Largo of Ireland was a close second on 57.87 and talented Syrian rider Ahmad Saber Hamcho / Columbia 11 was third on 60.03. Great Britain’s Nick Skelton rode his Olympic horse Big Star in the class as a final preparation for the Games. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum - who will now join the German Olympic squad instead of Philipp Weishaupt whose horse is not fit - rode Bella Donna in her last preparation before the London Games.

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Source: Press release from GCT.